Clutch Spring....again

[buck]

My 01' is at a Kawa shop in Oregon for a clutch spring replacement. I have read the threads on clutch springs and Gadget's article as well. I am lead to believe it is fairly straight forward, with removal of the exhaust header and the clutch cover. The dealer is telling me has to remove the gas tank, unbolt the engine and hold it up with jacks in order to get to the clutch housing. This is not the 2-1/2 hour procedure that I envisioned. Am I being taken advantage of, or is this normal if done by a dealer? I'm 3000 miles away in NC so my options are somewhat limited.

[ndbigfish]

At most the tank could be raised to dis-connect the rear brake light wires from the bracket so the wires can be removed with the frame rail. I've done the clutch spring a couple of times now on my Nomads. The engine will be supported on three corners. It is pretty easy. The stock exhaust may complicate things, but your exhaust does not appear stock. How much time are they quoting? I think the service writer might be a little off on what needs done. Extra labor is evident in the shop manual. Gadget's article is spot on.

[mikeyger]

Buck You are right! follow gadgets instructions and you will be fine.I installed a jog and spring and a set of the judges washers a couple of months ago. i got the meanie clutch spring for 16 dollars and a gasket for 16 dollars and pennys from cheap cycle parts the washers if you decide to do this are 30 dollars oh! hd exhaust gaskets are around 8 dollars for a set.I think the dealer was definetly tring to take advantage of you. They are like that where I live too!

[ringadingh]

Tell your dealer to read Gadgets article on replacing the spring, Thats what I followed when I did mine.
I didn't have to touch the fuel tank or jack up the bike. You can do it right on the sidestand.

[lomax]

If I were you, I'd get my bike outa there as fast as you can. This dealer either doesn't know what he's doing or he is ripping you off. You can do this job yourself in a couple hours and you won't be pulling the tank or moving the engine!!

Mike

[mikeyger]

ngbigfish Just wondering but what does disconneting the brake lights have to do with a clutch spring? Like ringdin said you can do it on the side stand and don't even have to change the oil>

[ndbigfish]

The wires run from the frame rail up the side of the frame. That is Gadget's step 1.

[MAS Tequila]

The last time I did one it took a little over an hour. But then I've got way too much experience. If you had the bike at home I would offer to help. Chapel Hill I could handle, but OR is a little too far.

541 271-5610 Give Guy over at Sherms a call. If you're close enough, there is nobody better with a 1500 or 1600 than Guy.

MT

[VulcanE]

The dealer quotes a price based on what the "BOOK" says. He probably does it like in Gadgets pages, but charges for what the book says. That's the reason I do my own stuff.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

The dealer quotes a price based on what the "BOOK" says. He probably does it like in Gadgets pages, but charges for what the book says. That's the reason I do my own stuff.

Flat rate labor. The book says 2 hours, it takes a skilled wrench 20 minutes, and you get billed for 2 hours.

Which reminds me, in the new issue of Rider Magazine, Clement Salvadori writes about how online businesses are negatively impacting brick and mortar dealerships. For example, you go into a dealer, try on a helmet that you like and then go home and order it online to save a few bucks.

This column actually prompted me to write to Rider in rebuttal. The flip side of the coin, if you will. I told him how my dealer charged premium labor rates for amateur, unprofessional work. How my dealer didn't stock basic parts (exhaust gaskets!!), and how my dealer closed up shop 2 years ago. Sometimes, they do it to themselves.